Bermuda — Things to Do

Things to do in Bermuda are mostly centered around the outdoors, and specifically enjoying the coast. Numerous beaches have the island’s characteristic pink sand and clear, warm water lapping the shore, and many are good for young children as the waves are typically pretty mellow. Beaches near towns and hotels have umbrellas and places to change, eat, and drink. Sailing and motor cruises are hugely popular, as are fishing charters, while whale watching can be enjoyed in winter, and golf and tennis year-round. Most activities are expensive, but fully accessible to tourists.

Sunbathing and swimming are the primary attractions, and there are beaches and bays island-side. Almost three dozen pink-sand beaches beckon visitors to Bermuda; some long and wide, others small coves hemmed in by cliffs. Most are open to the public and have good facilities, and many have good swimming for kids. Two of the most popular are Horseshoe Bay Beach in Southampton parish and Elbow Beach near Hamilton, in Paget parish.

With fine beaches and warm, clear waters, it’s no wonder water sports are so popular in Bermuda, especially windsurfing, waterskiing, and jet-skiing. The protected harbors of Hamilton, Castle, and Ely’s are fun, too, while Great Sound is good for semi-serious sailing. KS Watersports (St George) has excellent facilities and offer parasailing, another major Bermudan pastime.

Scuba diving and snorkeling are attractive as the waters around Bermuda are loaded with stunning corals, their associated marine life, and shipwrecks. Several outfits offer day dives and courses, such as Fantasea Diving and Watersports in the Dockyard. May through October is the best time to go, with 100 feet of visibility or more. Some reefs can even be snorkeled to from the beach with some coral reefs within easy swimming distance. And there is always somewhere to rent a mask and flippers. Rent equipment from Buzz on the Beach to check out the wildly popular Tobacco Bay, or hit up Elbow Beach and Snorkel Park Beach, which also boast great snorkeling.

Self-drive boats, from motor boats to paddle boats, can be rented at several boatyards and marinas, from two hours to a full day (eight hours), while licensed skippers are available for private charter cruises. Larger outfits, such as Champagne Cruises, take you around the clear waters properly, while Fantasea is one of many glass-bottom vessels for tours. For kayaking, Paradise Lake (Great Sound) is best. Half-day fishing group charters are also widely available.

Dolphins and whales abound in Bermudan waters. Dolphin Quest (at the National Museum of Bermuda, Royal Naval Dockyard) lets visitors admire these beautiful creatures and even swim with them. Located as it is right amid the Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda is in a good spot to watch migrating whales. They saunter past the islands from November through April and are a sight to behold. Moby Dick is a well-known tour boat operator that rarely disappoints.

Golf and tennis are eternally popular among Bermudans and visitors alike, and there are numerous golf courses, driving ranges, and courts. St George Golf Course (St George’s Parish) and* Ocean View Golf Course* (Devonshire Parish) are two of the most well-known. Most courses allow guests and have club rental, while some hotels have combined golf courses and tennis courts. Other popular Bermuda golf courses include: Tuckers Point (St George’s Parish), the nine-hole Horizons (Paget Parish), Fairmount Princess (Southampton Parish), and the Bermuda Golf Academy, complete with an excellent driving range (also Southampton Parish). Fairmont Southampton has arguably the best tennis courts in Bermuda.

Walking is the best way to take in Bermuda, and Hamilton and St George’s are especially pleasurable to amble around. On foot is the best way to sightsee, especially St George’s. Simply park your scooter and wander to soak in the atmosphere. Between the two towns is part of the celebrated Bermuda Railway Trail, which runs towards Somerset Village and takes in the coast. Numerous other walking trails are also apparent, and you can rent a bicycle, take a ferry to get to the off-the-beaten path side of the island.